Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Political or constitutional issue
For almost a month we have been hearing that it is mandatory that elections must be held within 90 days of dissolution of a provincial assembly by CM of that province, because the Constitution makes this mandatory. However, what is confusing is that two provincial assemblies were dissolved, almost simultaneously, within a gap of just three days. The Punjab Provincial Assembly was dissolved on 14 January while KP was dissolved on 17 January.
The Lahore HC on 11 February 2023 gave a judgment that elections must be held within 90 days as per the Constitution. In my humble opinion, the matter stood settled, unless there was an intra-court appeal which decided otherwise, or the judiciary revisited judgment based on 63-A. The SCP in its wisdom chose to take suo motu on 22 February of a settled issue. What puzzles me further is that if the suo motu notice was taken in case of Punjab Assembly, why not for KP dissolution and elections there within 90 days.
SCP must restrain itself from intruding into jurisdiction of Executive or Parliament, and regulate using suo motu powers. The Constitution elaborates emphatically on trichotomy of powers. Pakistan has suffered previously because of this needless activism when Reko Diq agreement signed on July 23, 1993 was declared null and void in January 2013 and this country was imposed a penalty of $6.5 billion. This Reko Diq agreement was purely an Executive decision, rightly or wrongly concluded by the state and intervention by SCP without evaluating international obligations involved.
It was a gross misuse of powers by former CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry. Thereafter such needless interventions using suo motu powers were resorted to by Saqib Nisar and others who succeeded them. PKLI in Lahore was also a victim and so was Nasla Towers. Scores of construction irregularities such as Avenue One in Islamabad were regularized on grounds of Third-Party interests for the benefit of powerful elite.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Joyous festival of Eid
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. All Muslim countries celebrate Eid as a sign of unity and values.
Starting the day with namaaz and a sweet dish called ‘sheer khurma’, men, women and children wear new clothes, while women along with their new outfits, also wear bangles and apply mehandi.
The children receive blessings and gifts from elders called Eidi. Being happy and thankful to the Almighty, we should not forget the people who are not celebrating Eid such as policemen, housemaids and gate keepers who do not get leave from their employers. We should share our happiness with them too, as Eid is all about sharing happiness and joy.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Only cash policy
I am writing to bring to the attention of the concerned bodies towards a growing concern among consumers — the refusal of petrol pumps to accept credit card payments. It is becoming increasingly common for petrol pumps to demand cash payment, despite the availability of credit card machines. This not only causes inconvenience to consumers, but also poses a security risk as carrying cash can make individuals vulnerable to theft.
In the current scenario where people are increasingly relying on digital modes of payment, the refusal to accept credit card payments seems unreasonable. The government must step in and instruct petrol pumps to accept credit card payments, as it is their duty to ensure the safety and convenience of citizens. Moreover, not accepting credit card payments also deprives consumers of the benefits and rewards that credit cards offer such as cashback, discounts and reward points. It is important that petrol pumps recognize the significance of digital payments and embrace the benefits they offer.
In conclusion, it is time for the government to intervene and ensure that petrol pumps accept credit card payments. This will not only ease burden on consumers but also promote a safer and more convenient mode of payment.
SHAISTA NAZ
Karachi
Healthcare evolution
The Lahore-based PKLI became the first public hospital in Pakistan to successfully perform robotic surgery, this was for a nephrectomy, removal of kidney. This is a huge achievement for a country like Pakistan where at least 17 million people are currently suffering from kidney problems with Pakistan ranking eighth among countries with a high rate of kidney diseases.
Healthcare is fundamental right of the people that government should set up institutes like the PKLI where people can get world-class medical treatment. The PKLI however could not save itself from controversies that halted its operations and deprived people of much-needed healthcare. In 2018, former CJ Saqib Nisar took a suo motu notice against the hospital. In 2019, the Supreme Court reversed all orders passed by Saqib Nisar.
However, the then PTI government did not take any steps to revive the hospital. In April 2022, the work on the hospital resumed. People also need similar projects in other provinces and not just in main cities only. If Karachi and Lahore can have these facilities, why are the people of other parts of the country being deprived? We need more such projects that provide healthcare either free or at minimal rates. It is also hoped that all successive governments will respect and expand welfare projects regardless of which political party launched them to maintain a sustainable and empathetic healthcare sector in the country.
MUNAWAR SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Box letter
Tik-Tok addiction
I’m writing to you to let you know how worried I am about the TikTok addiction. TikTok has become an addiction for many people, despite the fact that it may be a fun and enjoyable way to spend the time. It is simple to lose track of time and become lost in the never-ending stream of videos, which can have a bad effect on relationships, productivity and mental and physical health. Abuse of social media can cause addiction as well as despair and anxiety. We must take this situation seriously as a society and deal with it now, before it worsens. In order to increase awareness of the potential dangers of social media addiction and to give tools to assist people who are struggling, parents, educators and health professionals must collaborate. In conclusion, it is critical to keep a good balance and give your mental and physical health top priority. I implore you to create boundaries for yourself, such as limiting the amount of time you spend on social media or utilizing applications that monitor your usage and to be conscious of how you use TikTok. Don’t forget to do other things that are good for your bodily and mental health like exercising, reading and spending time with loved ones.
AQSA WAQAR
Lahore
